Changeable price marker



Sept. 21, 1937. E ANDRES 2,093,714

CHANGEABLE PRICE MARKER Filed Dec. 9, 1956 INVENTOR.

A1]: a PTU D E Andreis Patented Sept. 21, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE '7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in changeable markers and more particularly to those of the rotatable disk type.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved marker including a plurality of independently rotatable disks having co-acting indicia-containing zones and indicia-framing openings.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved marker including independently changeable price, quantity and article indicia.

A further object of the invention is to provide a marker of the multiple rotatable disk type including a shield havinga single sight opening and wherein an improved relationship between the disks and the sight opening is obtained.

A still further object is to provide a marker of the rotatable disk type having improved bracing and supporting means.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification and in which drawing:-

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved marker,

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the improved marker.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the improved marker with the disk shield removed and portions of the disks broken away to show their relationship.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 44 of Figure 1 and with the article indicator removed.

In the drawing, which shows only a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein similar reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, the improved marker may comprise a spider l0 including a central main body portion II and a plurality of radially extending similar legs l2 and an additional leg 13 provided with a pointed extension l4.

Rotatably carried in co-axial alignment by the central main body portion H as by a pivot bolt I5 having a knurled thumb nut l5, are a pair of relatively large disks lS-Jl and a smaller disk 18. The disks l6ll at their front faces I8|9 respectively may each be provided with an annular series of spaced apart indicia-containing zones -2l respectively, beyond a given radius R and preferably along the circumferential margins of the disks l6l|. Preferably ten of these zones may be provided in each disk and each containing a different digit. Between the zones 2| of the disk I! are provided apertures 22 arranged in alternating relation to the zones and forming an annular series of openings framing the zones 20 of the disk 16 upon proper positioning of the two disks one (IT) in front of the other (16). The third or smaller disk I8 may be positioned adjacent the front face of the disk H and preferably is of the given radius R, and inwardly of the radius it may be provided with an annular series of preferably ten adjacent zones 23 containing suitable quantity or weight designations such as Doz., Lb. and Each. The indicia of all the zones preferably are arranged with their normally vertical or upright axes in alignment with or parallel to radii bisecting the zones. It will be noted that the ten adjacent zones 23 of the small disk l8 are radially alignable each with an indicia-containing zone 2| and adjacent opening 22 of the disk I! and through which opening an indicia-containing zone 20 of the disk l6 may be visible. In other words, the adjacent zones 23 of the small disk 18 are each angularly equal to and radially alignable with a pair of associated zones 202| of the disks l 6l 1 respectively.

A shield arranged over the front face of the disk assembly may be fixed to the spider as by the central pivot bolt I 5 passing through the disks as well as by a plurality of extra-circumferential rivets 26 positioned in the legs I2 and I3 outwardly of the circumferential edges of the disks and passing through projecting portions 21 about the marginal edge of the shield and adjacent legs I2 and [3. This front shield 25 may have a sight opening 28 extending bi-laterally of an arc of the given radius R and angularly equal to a single zone 23 of the disk I 8 and a pair of associated zones 2D2l of the disks I6-|1. Radially, the aperture may be substantially equal to the combined radial lengths of the zones 2| and 23 so that substantially all of and no more than three complete selected zones, one of each of the disks IE-i3, may be revealed simultaneously. In order to facilitate rotation of the disk IS, the front shield 25 may be provided with an arcuate slot 26 alignable with an annular series of apertures 21 inwardly concentric to the indicia-containing zones 23 and permitting engagement of the dial I8 through the slot 26 for rotation by means of a suitable tool such as a pointed pencil.

In order to facilitate rotation of the disks l6 and H, the opposed or outer faces of the disks are provided about their circumferential edges with ridged portions I6 which are disposed beyond the top and side marginal edges of the shield 25 so as to be engaged by ones fingers to rotate the disks. When the disks I6, Ill, and 18 have been rotated for displaying the desired indicia, the thumb nut [5 may be tightened so as to clamp the disks against accidental relative rotary movement.

In order to better adapt the device for use upon various kinds of articles, a changeable article marker 35 of substantially major annular segmental form may be removably associated with the shield 25 so as to overlie the upper portion of the shield above the pivot bolt 15. In the example shown, the shield 25 is provided with two slits 36 into which the end portions of the article marker may be inserted.

The improved marker is particularly useful wherever frequently changing prices and quantitles or weights must be readily displayed, such as in grocery stores. The pointed extension l4 may be inserted in articles of merchandise, such as fruit, vegetables, etc., or it may be supported by inserting the pointed extension into shelves or containers. By relatively rotating the disks, various sets of price and quantity or weight designating indicia may be caused to align with the sight opening 28 in the front shield 25 and, if desired, the indicia-containing zones 20 of the rear disk l6 may be aligned or positioned in back of the indicia-containing zones 2| of the intermediate disk I! so that the indicia-containing zones 2| of the disk ll will be associated with the alternate blank spaces of the rear disk [6, in those instances where it is desired to display a price designated by the indicia of a single zone 2|.

Various changes may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a changeable marker, a pair of co-axially aligning relatively rotatable disks each having a front face provided with an annular series of spaced apart indicia-containing zones beyond a given radius, one of said disks being adjacent the front face of the other and provided with an annular series of spaced apart openings alternating with the zones on the front face of the firstmentioned disk and selectively framing the zones on the front face of the second-mentioned disk upon relative rotation of said disks, a third disk adjacent the front face of the first disk and coaxially aligning with and rotatable relative to the first and second disks, the third disk being of a radius substantially equal to said given radius and having a front face provided with an annular series of adjacent indicia-containing zones within the given radius each selectively radially alignable with and angularly equal to a selected pair of associated zones of the first and second disks, and a shield associated with said disks, and provided with a sight opening revealing a zone of the third disk and a pair of associated zones of the first and second disks upon proper relative positioning of the disks.

2. In a changeable marker, three co-axially aligning relatively rotatable disks comprising a first disk provided with an annular series of alternately positioned indicia-cont'aining zones and zone framing openings beyond a given radius, a second disk provided with an annular series of alternate indicia-containing zones and spacing zones beyond the given radius, and a third disk having a radius substantially equal to the given radius and provided with an annular series of adjacent indicia-containing zones within the given radius, the first disk' being positioned between the second and third disks with alternate zones of the second disk selectively registrable with and visible through the zone framing openings of the first disk, and a shield for said disks having a sight opening extending bilaterally of an arc of the given radius and revealing a zone of the third disk within the arc and a pair of associated zones of the first and second disks beyond the are upon proper relative positioning of the disks.

3. In a changeable price marker, a spider including a main body portion, a circular disk rotatably secured to the main body portion, said spider including leg portions radially extending from the main body portion and terminating in free ends beyond the. edge of the disk, a shield for the disk including a plurality of projecting portions extending beyond the edge of the disk adjacent said free ends, and means securing the projecting portions of the shield to said free ends, the shield being provided with a sight opening revealing a portion of the disk.

4. In a changeable marker, a pair of relatively rotatable co-axial disks provided at their outer faces and about their circumferential edges with ridged finger gripping portions, a supporting member overlying the outer face of one of the disks, a shield overlying the outer face of the other disk and having edge portions thereof disposed inwardly of the circumferential edges of the disks, and means securing the shield to the supporting member at spaced apart points beyond the circumferential edge of the disks.

5. In a changeable price marker, a spider including a main body portion, a disk rotatably carried by the main body portion, said spider including leg portions radially extending from the main body portion and terminating in free ends beyond the edge of the disk, one of said ends including a pointed extension, a shield adjacent the disk including a plurality of fastening portions positioned beyond the edge of the disk and adjacent said free ends, and means securing the fastening portions of the shield to the free ends of the spider, said shield having an opening framing a portion of the disk.

6. In a changeable marker, a rotatable disk, a

shield adjacent the disk including a pair of spacedapart substantially aligning slits, and a flat indicia-carrying strip of substantially major annular arcuate segmental form having its opposite end portions each extending through one of said slits, said end portions being each positioned between said shield and said disk, whereby the intermediate portion of said strip is urged against the outer face of one zone of the shield, said shield being provided at another zone with a sight opening revealing a portion of the disk. 

